Low voter turnout predicted in Nashua

NASHUA — The city clerk is predicting about 14 percent of registered voters in Nashua will hit the polls on Tuesday for the municipal election.

“A non-mayoral election, such as this one, always has the lowest turnout,” City Clerk Paul Bergeron said. “We have 50,717 registered voters in Nashua, and I am projecting about a 14 percent turnout, or approximately 7,100 voters based on the figures from the last two municipal elections.”

.During the last municipal election in 2011 when Mayor Donnalee Lozeau was running unopposed for a four-year term, 7,613 voters cast ballots. In 2009, when it was a non-mayoral election, 6,961 ballots were cast, according to Bergeron...“It is unfortunate, but a lot of people don’t get as excited for city elections as they do a state or presidential election, but these are the issues that are closest to home and impact citizens the most,” said Bergeron. He anticipates Ward 1 will bring in the most voters since its voter registration is the highest at about 6,500 residents. Ward 8 will likely have a good turnout as well since there is a special state representative race on the Ward 8 ballot, Bergeron said. There are nine polling sites in the city, with 11 election workers at each site helping to make the process run smoothly, he said. Two voter registrars, four ballot workers, three selectmen, a ward clerk and a moderator are stationed at each of the polling locations. “We are going to be using our usual staffing on Tuesday,” said Bergeron...In light of all the political signs adorning city neighborhoods, he said local residents are aware of the upcoming election.